Folding bed.



J. L. TANDY.

FOLDING BED.

- APPLICATION FILED JUKE 9, 1908.

958,682. Patented May 17, 1910.

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mnwulmW-M" J. L. TANDY.

FGLDING BED.

uruonxou rum) mm: 9. 190a.

Patented May 17, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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J. L. TANDY.

FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED JURED, 190B.

Patented May 17, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

JOHN L. TANDY, OF KANSAS CIIIY, MISSOURI.

FOLDING BED.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, 1910.

Application filed June 9, 1908. Serial No. 437.555.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jonix L. TANDY, a citizen of the United States. residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to. folding beds of that type known as two-section beds and embodying a head-rail section and a foot-rail section drop-hinged together so that when folded the height of the bed shall be but little in excess of the length of the foot-rail section, and my primary object is to produce a. bed of the character outlined, provided with a mantel consisting of a permanent section rigid with the head-frame and a section movable with the footrai1 section and adapted when the bed is closed to cooperate with the permanent section in forming a wide mantel and when the bed is open form the foot-board, a mantel of this character bein very desirable because it diminishes the dhances of one bumping his head against the mantel in entering or arising from the bed, as frequently occurs with beds having a permanently wide mantel as exemplified in the patents issued to me on Nov. 27, 1908 and Jan. 15, 1907, and respectively numbered. 837.145 and 841,280.

\Vith this general objectin view and others as hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel andpeculiar features of construction and organization as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order than it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the bed unfolded. Fig. .2 is a horizontal section taken on the dotted line H of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of a portion of the permanent section of the mantel. Fig.4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the-dotted line IV of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side view of the bed folded. Fig. (i is an enlarged vertical section taken on the dotted line VIVI of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a top view of the footportion of the bed when folded, with the foot board mantel section omitted. Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken on the dotted line VIII of Fig. 5, but showing a modified construction of that disclosed by said figure. Fig. 9 is a section on the dotted line IXIX of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective View of a portion of a fabric door as distinguished from the wood door shown in Figs. 1,:2and Fig. 11 isaside view of a portion of the bed unfolded and embodying certain modified features of construction. F ig. 1: 3 is a side view of the structure of Fig. 11. in folded position. Fig. 13 is an enlarged side view of theupper portion of the construction shown by Fig. 12, in partly folded position. Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the construction shown by Fig. 13, with the footboard mantel-section omitted. Fig. 15, is a side view of a modified form of part of the construction shown by Fig. 11. Fig. 16 is an inverted plan view of a part of the mantel and also shows a part of one of the doors and means whereby the closing or opening of such door shall respectively effect the locking and centering or unlocking of the mantel sections. and Fig. 17 is a section on the dotted line XVII of Fig. 16.

In the said drawings, 1 indicates parallel sills mounted upon casters 2.

3 are standards rising from the head-ends of sills l and connected by suitable crossbars or. braces 4;, and by inclined brace 5 with the sills 1.

6 are inclined braces secured to standards 3 and to the permanent mantel-section 7 to brace the same, said mantel-section being otherwise rigidly secured to the upper ends of the standards 3 in any suitable or wellknown manner.

The parts thus far described constitute a. rigid frame, hereinafter termed the headframe of the bed.

The head-rail section of the bed consists of a cross-bar 8, provided with a pair of parallel side-rails 9, having a pin and slot connection at 10 to braces 5, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Pivoted at 11 to the side rail 9 is a U-shaped brace 12 and pivotally connecting said brace with and near the foot-ends of sills 1 are braces 13, these braces 12 and 13 together constituting a break-joint brace between the sills and the head-rail section of the bed, the brace 12 being limited in its swinging movement foot-ward by stops 14 secured to and depending from side rails 9, said stops being so disposed as to barely permit the pivotal points of connection between and 13, to move foot ward beyond the plane of the pivotal points of connection of brace 19. with rails 9 and braces 13 with sills 1. Said stops also act as a support for the foot-end of the bed by preventing the brace 12 swinging too far in such direction.

The toot-rail section consists of a crossbar 15 and a pair of parallel side-rails l6 pivoted at IT to rails 9, braces 18 being employed if desired, between cross-bar 15 and side-rails it). and secured rigidly to the footrail section is a foot-board 19 to form an extension for the permanent IHtlIlttl-FCCllOll when the bed is folded, as hereinafter more particularly referred to, the foot-board being preferably braced in position by braces 20 secured at their opposite end to the footboard and side rails 16.

The foot-board is provided at its inner side with one or more sockets 21 for the reception of the catches 22 secured to and projecting from the permanent mantel-section 7, said catches being of right-angle triangle shape in side view, with their hypotenuse sides extending downwardly toward the adjacent or front edge of mantel'section T, and their sides converging upwardly in order that, as the foot-board mantei-section assumes its position as an extension of section 7 and its sockets 21 receive catches 22, the hypotenuse sides of the latter shall compel the foot-board section to abut squarely against the front edge of section 7 and the converging sides of the catches shall center the foot-board section with respect to section 7 so that the side edges of the two sections shall be tlush, this centering being desirable in order to insure the proper alinement of the mantel sections when the bed is closed, after such bed becomes loose-jointed through wear or careless handling.

In order to effect interlocking of the sections 7 and 19 of the mantel and the unlocking of such sections, the foot-rail end of the bed mu t have a slight downward movement as the end of its closing movement is attained and a reverse or slight upward movement in the initial part of the unfolding operation, which movements occur automatically as hereinafter appears.

23 indicates a pair of levers or legs pi oted to side rails 16 and connected by a crossbar 24, which ties said levers or legs together and incidentally forms a handle for the convenient manipulation of the bed.

25 indicates rigid arms projecting from links 13 and pivotally connected at- 26 to levers or legs 23, and arms 25 forming fulcrums to compel the pivoted head and footrail sections to rise as handle 24 is pulled outward, this upward movementstarting the expansion of the break-joint braces 12 13 and therefore making it easier to unfold the bed, the same lifting action resulting in the locking and unlocking of the man el sections, as hereinbefore explained.

27 is a bed-front, preferably of wood. arranged betw een and disposed approximately parallel with arms 25 and pivotally connected at 25 to upwardly projecting arms 2%) bearing a rigid relation to cross piece or foot-bar 30 and the depending molding piece 31 at the front side and endsof said crosspiece, said bed-front being also pivotally connected to links pivoted to said arms 25.

\Yhen the bed is unfolded the parts are as shown in full lines, Fig. 1, with the doors 33 open, each door (one only appearing) being hinged as at 3% to upright 35 secured to the head-frame 3 and provided at its free edges with an inturned flange 36. As the bed is grasped by the foot-board 19 or otherwise and raised the connected movable parts move to and assume the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 1, it being noted that at such time the break-joint braces have broken toward the head of the bed and that the pivotal point of connection between the head and foot-rail sections has dropped below its original position. As the bed continues upward in the folding operation from the position shown in the dotted lines, the levers or legs 23 which in the first part of such operation swing toward such break-joint brace reverse their swinging movement and swing toward the foot-board mantel-section, the operator grasping the cross-bar or handle 2st as soon as itis conveniently in reach, to control the closing operation, a slight backward pull or restraint on said cross-bar lifting the foot-rail section bodily so that the footboard mantel-section shall abut against the permanentmantel section above the catches 22, it being understood that to effect this lifting operation through the slight backward pull or restraint on the said cross-bar, the operator utilizes the arms 25 as a fulcrum or point of leverage. He then shoves said cross-bar and the connected parts toward the foot-rail section, and as this action occurs the said section settles or gravitates downward and the catches 22 are received by the sockets 21 to center section 19 as explained, and aid in locking the bed in closed position. To open the bed the operator grasps the cross-bar and pulls it outward, as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 5, and thus again utilizes the arms as a fulcrum to raise the foot-rail section, the raising in this instance unlocking the footboard mantel section from the permanent mantel-section. In this connection it will be noted that the pin-and-slot connection 10, (Fig. 4) permits the head-rail section to play slightly as the bed is folded or unfolded, to avoid any undue binding or resistance as the pivotal points of connection between braces 12 and 13 pass center.

In Figs. 8 and 9, Where the bed-front 27 is shown as capable of a slight endwise well as hinge movement,the link 32 hereinbefore mentioned as pivoted to both the bedrespectively. In the figures last referred to. 1

the foot-bar 30 equipped with a pair of I upwardly-disposed hooks 4a to engage the notches 45 in the lower ends of the bedfront. \Yhen the bed is closed the base-ends of said notches rest upon said hooks and the upper ends of the latter engage the back of the bed-front and hold it squarely against the bar 30. When the bed is open the bedfront assumes approximately the position shown in dotted lines. Fig. 9, and at such time the base-ends of the notches bear against the hooks below their terminals and the latter overlie the bed-front and prevent it from swinging upward at its lower end.

\Vhen the bed is folded the doors are closed to hide the sides of the movable parts of the bed-frame and the interior of the bed from View, the flanges 36 at the free edges of the doors overlapping when said doors are closed, the side edges of the front and projecting into the notches 37 in the ends of the cross-bar or handle Q-l, as shown clearly in Fig. 7, in which positions said flanges act to lock the bed closed.

In Fig. 10 I show asection of a modified type of door, the same embodying a hook 333 preferably of metal, and adapted to be hinged to upright 35 or a contiguous part of the head-frame for horizontal movement. so that the hook may lap the front side of the bed when folded and the notch 37 of the cross-bar or handle 24. The body of the door consists of fabric 33*, depending from the hook. This style of door is preferably employed in the construction of a bed involving the pins or catches 22 and notches or sockets 21, though it may of course be employed in connection with the other mantelsection locking mechanism hereinafter described in connection with the door 33.

In Fig. 16. I show a door-actuated means for locking the mantel sections and hence the bed. in closed position. In said figure. 38 indicates a latch-bar pivotally connected to the door shown, near its hinge point and held flatly against the underside of section 7 by a keeper 39. The front end of said bar is V-shape in lan view and has a notch 40 in its outer Q( ge contiguous to said V- haped or pointed end. The frictional engagement of said bar with the keeper and mantel-section 7 is preferably suflicient to hold the door partly or wholly open in order to avoid the necessity of using means for preventing it from closing under the influenee of a draft of air, as it will be found desirable on hot nights. to leave one or both doors partly or wholly open for ventilation purposes.

41 is a catch secured to the inner or lower side of the foot-board nnmtcl-section 19 in line with each latch-bar 3S and provided with a flaring mouth 42 to insure engagement by the companion latch bar in the cvent that the latter and the catch are not perfectly alincd horizontally when the bed is closed. The outer end of each catch conby preference. of a screw or pin 43 for engagement by the notch of the corresponding latch bar. it being understood that. if the side edges of the mantel sections do not aline properly when the bed is closed, the pointed or V'shaped end of one of the latch bars when adjusted by the closing of the door. will strike the. associated screw or pin and thus cause the foot-board mantel-section to swing to one side until its ends are flush with the ends of the permanent mantel-section. The other latch-bar and its associated catch screw or pin is adapted to effect opposite movement endwise of mantel-section 1.), it being understood that only one latch-ha and its companion catch screw or p n performs its function at a time and that endwise movement of section 19 never occurs when said section approaches section 7 in proper alinement.

Referring now to Sheet 3. 46 indicates an extension for each lever or leg 23 and pivotally connecting said extension to a mattress or cover clamp 47 pivoted as at 48 to side rails 16 and of inverted U-shape in cross section. is a brace 50, which preferably consists as shown only in Fig. 11, of two sections 50 hinged together at 51 so as to be capable of breaking upwardly to permit the mattress or cover clamp to swing downward toward and clamp the foot-end of the mattress and covers (not shown) tightly in position so that they shall not slip downward as the bed is being folded. and in order to accommodate this mattress or cover clamp for use in connection with covers alone or with a very thin mattress and covers, the U-shaped clamp is made in sections pivoted together at 52 to permit the upper or crossbar section to be swung forwardly at an angle to the side sections, there being sufficient friction between the side and cross-bar ections of said clamp to maintain them in alinement as substantially shown in Figs. 11 and 12 or at a decided angle to each other, as shown most clearly in Fig. 13.

To meet the desire of purchasers who prefer a bed with legs at the extreme foot-end thereof. to provide a more solid support in the event of one sitting on the foot-end of the bed when folded. I provide the following construction: 53 indicates a link pivoted to each leg-extension 46 coincidentally with V brace 50, and pivoted at its opposite end to one of a supplemental pair of legs 54, each pivoted or hinged at its upper end at to a bracket 56 secured to the. foot end of the adjacent side-rail 16, the upper end of legs 51 being connected by a cross-bar 57.

If desired the levers or legs 23 may be dispensed with as legs, when the bed is equipped with legs 5-1, that is to say, the portions of legs 23 below arms :25 may be dispensed with, as shown in Fig. 15, it being obvious that in such event cross-bar 2i will also be dispensed with, the cross-bar 57 forming a handle whereby arms 25 are utilized as a fulcrum in raising the foot-rail and footboard mantel-section preliminary to the locking action and for the purpose of unlocking said section 19 from the permanent mantelsection, and in this connection it vill be noted that in Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive, the bed-front 27, is omitted for clearness of illustration.

In closing a bed of the type shown as provided with the brake-joint braces 50, the latter, if the bedding is thin, are preferably first broken upward as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 11, to clamp the foot-end of the mattress and covers reliably in place. The foot-board or mantel-section 19 or cross-bar 57 is then grasped to start the closing movement. In the early part of such movement levers or legs 23 swing to the position indicated by dotted lines Fig. l, and legs 54 swing ,in the opposite direction. As the levers or legs 23 reverse such movement as hereinbefere explained, the movement of legs 54 is also reversed, the legs when the bed is folded to substantially the position shown in Fig. 13, occupying the relative positions shown in said figure. As the bed is completely folded, legs 54 assume a substantially vertically pendent position between legs 23, and the cross-bar 21 of the latter is disposed forward of and bridges the space between legs 54. It will be ap arent that as the said reverse or upswing 0 levers or legs 23 occurs, their extensions 46 will pull upon the braces 50 and substantially straighten the same as their opposite ends are practically immovable because connected to the mattress or cover clamp. After the bed is unfolded, the breakjoint braces 50 are restraightened by applying downward pressure upon them or by pulling the clamp toward the footboard.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a folding bed embodying the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and it is to he understood that I reserve the right of making such changes in the form, proportion, detail construction and organization of the parts as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

eescsa Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A folding bed, comprising a rigid headframe having a forwardly projecting mantel-section, a head-rail section pivoted to the head-frame. a foot-rail section pivoted to the foot-cud of the head-rail section, folding legs for the foot-rail section, a foot-board secured to the foot-rail section and adapted when the bed is folded to form a continuation of the head-frame mantel-section, doors secured to the head-frame and adapted to lock the bed in its folded position, and means actuated by the doors in their closing or opening movements to lock the mantel sections together or to unlock them.

2. A folding bed, comprising a rigid headframe having a forwardly projecting mantel-section, a head-rail section pivoted to the head-frame, a foot-rail section pivoted to the foot-end of the head-rail section, folding egs for the foot-rail section, a foot-board secured to the foot-rail section and adapted when the bed is folded to form a continuation of the head-frame mantel-section, and means for centering the foot-board mantelsection with respect to the head-frame mantel-section.

3. A folding bed, comprising a rigid headframe having a forwardly projecting mantel-section, a head-rail section pivoted to the head-frame, a foot-rail section pivoted to the foot-end of the head-rail section, folding legs for the foot-rail section, a foot-board secured to the foot-rail section and adapted when the bed is folded to form a continuation of said headframe mantel-section, doors hinged to the head-frame, keepers secured to the foot-board mantel-section, and means actuated by the doors as they are closed, to engage said keepers and lock the mantel-sections together.

4. A folding bed, comprising a rigid headframe having a forwardly projecting inantel-section, a head-rail section pivoted to the head-frame. a foot-rail section pivoted to the foot-end of the head-rail section, folding legs for the foot-rail section, a foot-board secured to the foot-rail section and adapted when the bed is folded to form a continuation of the head-frame mantel-section and provided with keepers, doors hinged to the head-frame, bars adapted to be advanced to ward the keepers by the closing of the doors, and guides for said bars, carried by the head-frame mantel-section to compel said bars if the foot-rail mantel-section is not properly centered with respect to the other mantel-section, to engage said keepers and push them and the foot-rail mantel-section endwise or laterally of the bed and center it with respect to the companion mantelsection.

having a forwardly projecting mantel-section, a head-rail section pivoted to the headframe, a break-joint brace connecting said head-rail section with the head frame and normally supporting the former in a subnormally supporting the. former in a substantially horizontal position. a foot-rail section 2 pivoted at its head-end to the head-rail secstantially horizontal position, a foot-rail section pivoted at its head-end to the head-rail section rearward of said break-joint brace. a foot-board mantel-section secured to the foot-end of the foot-rail section, levers pivoted to the foot-rail section, and fulcrum arms rigid with the member of the breakjoint brace connected to the head-frame and pivotally connected to said levers.

6. In a folding bed, a head-frame. a headrail section pivoted to the head-frame, a foot-rail section pivoted to the head-rail section, levers pivoted to the sides of the footrail section and a bed-front having a pivotall vguided connection at its lower end with the head-frame and linked near its upper end to said levers.

7. In a folding bed, a rigid head-frame having a forwardly projecting mantel-section, a head-rail section pivoted to the headframe, a break-joint brace connecting said head-rail section with the head-frame and normally supporting the former in a substantially horizontal position, a foot-rail section pivoted at its head-end to the head-rail section rearward of said break-joint brace, a foot-board mantel-section secured to the foot-end of the foot-rail. section, levers pivoted to the foot-rail section, fulcrum arms rigid with the members of the break-joint braces connected to the head-fra1ne and pivotally connected to said levers, and a bedfrontbetween and connected to said fulcrum arms and a pivotally guided connection with the head-frame.

8. In a folding bed, a rigid head-frame having a forwardly projecting mantel-section, a head-rail section pivoted to the headframe, a break-joint brace connecting said head-rail section with the head-frame and normally sup orting the former in a substantially horizontal position, a foot-rail section pivoted at its head-end to the headrail section rearward of said break-joint brace, a foot-board mantel-section secured to the foot-end of the foot-rail section, levers pivoted to the foot-rail section, fulcrum arms rigid with the members of the break-joint braces pivoted to the head-frame, and means for imparting a relative downward and forward movement to said levers simultaneously to utilize said fulcrum arms as a fulcrum for lifting the foot-rail section and the head-rail section preliminary to opening or unfolding movement of the bed.

9. In a folding bed, a rigid head-frame having a forwardly projecting mantel-section, a head-rail section pivoted to the headframe, a break-joint brace connecting said head-rail section with the head frame and tion rearward of said break-joint brace, a

foot-board mantel-section secured to the footend of the foot-rail section. levers pivoted to 1 the foot-rail section. fulcrum arms rigid with the members of the break-joint braces pivoted to the head-frame, means for imparting a relative downward and forward movement to said levers simultaneously to utilize said fulcrum arms as a fulcrum for lifting the foot-rail section and the h nd-rail section preliminary to opening or unfolding movement of the bed, means for locking said mantel-sections to prevent movement of the foot and head-rail sections, and doors adapted opened to unlock the mantel sections.

10. In a folding bed, a rigid head-frame having a forwardly projecting mantel-section, a head-rail section pivoted to the headframe, a break-joint Lrace connecting said head-rail section with the head-frame and normally supporting the former in a substantially horizontal position, a foot-rail section pivoted at its head-end to the head-rail section rearward of said break-joint brace, a foot-board mantel-section secured to the footend of the foot-rail section, levers pivoted to the foot-rail section, fulcrum arms rigid with the members of the break-joint braces pivoted to the head-frame, means for imparting a relative downwa rd and forward movement to said levers simultaneously to utilize said fulcrum arms as a fulcrum for lifting the foot-rail section and the head-rail section preliminary to opening or unfolding movement of the bed, and hinged doors carried by the head frame and provided with means for overlapping the front side of the folding portion of the bed to secure the same in folded or closed condition.

11. In a folding bed, a head-frame, a headrail section pivoted to the head-frame, a break-joint brace pivotally connecting the head-frame and the head-rail section together, fulcrum arms projecting from the members of the said brace which are pivoted to the head-frame, a foot-rail section pivoted to the head-rail section, levers pivoted to the foot-rail section and to said fulcrum bars, legs pivotally connected to the foot-rail section, and links pivotally connecting said legs with the ends of said levers at the opposite sides of their pivotal points from said fulcrum anus.

12. In a folding bed, a head-frame, a headrail section pivoted to the head-frame, a breakjoint brace pivotally connecting the headframe and the head-rail section together, fulcrum arms projecting from the members of the said brace which are pivoted to the headframe, a foot-rail section pivoted to the headrail section, levers pivoted to the foot-rail section and to said fulcrum bars, legs pivotally connected to the foot-rail section, links pivotall} connecting said legs with the ends of said levers at the opposite sides of their pivotal points from said fulcrum arms, and a cross-bar connecting said legs together.

13. in a folding bed, a head-frame, a head-rail section pivoted to the head-fran'ie, a break-joint brace pivotally connecting the head frame and the head-rail section together, fulcrum arms projecting from the members of the said brace which are pivoted to the head-frame, a foot-rail section pivoted to the head-rail section, levers pivoted to the foot-rail section and to said fulcrum bars, a pivoted clamp carried by the foot-rail section, and links pivotally connectiug said clamp with said levers at the opposite sides of the pivotal points of the latter from said fulcrum arms.

14. In a folding bed, a head-frame, a head-rail section pivoted to the head-frame, a break-joint brace pivotally connecting the head-frame and the head-rail section together, fulcrum arms projecting from the members of the said brace which are pivoted to the head-frame, a foot-rail section pivoted to the head-rail section, levers pivoted to the foot-rail section and to said fulcrum bars, a pivoted clamp carried by the foot-rail section. and links pivotally connecting said clamps with said levers at the opposite sides of the pivotal points of the latter from said fulcrum arms; said links each consisting of two sections hinged together so as to be capable of breaking upwardly at their hinge point.

15. In a folding bed, a head-frame, a head-rail section pivoted to the nead-frame, a break-joint brace pivotally connecting, the head-frame and the head-rail section together, fulcrum arms projecting from the members of the said brace which are pivoted to the head-frame, a foot-rail section pivo ed to the head-rail section, levers pivoted to the foot-rail section and to said fulcrum bars, clamp consisting of side portions pivoted to the foot-rail section at their lower ends and a cross bar adjustably pivotcd to and connecting said side portions, and links pivotally connectinc the side portions of said clamp above their pivotal points with the ends of said levers at the opposite sides of their pivotal points from said fulcrum bars.

16. A folding bed. comprising a rigid head-frame and a bed-frame consistin, of a head-rail section and a foot-rail section drop-jointed together with the head-rail section pivoted to said head-frame break-jointbraces ivotally connecting the head-rail section with the head-frame. and stops in the path of the forward swing of the breakjoint braces to limit their movement in such direction and prevent the bed-frame from buckling.

17. A folding-bed, comprising a rigid head-frame provided with forwardly projecting sills, a head-rail section having a pivotal pin-and-slot connection with the head-frame, a foot-rail section having a drop-joint connection with the head-rail section and provided with folding legs, breakjoint braces connecting the head-rail section with the said sills, and stops secured to the head-rail section and depending from the same to limit forward swinging movement of the break-joint braces.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. TANDY \Vitn'esses H. C. Romans, G. Y. THORPE. 

